Latest news with #PreslavNakov
The National
03-04-2025
- The National
UAE's AI university develops tool to detect propaganda in news
The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in Abu Dhabi has introduced a new tool to help identify persuasion tactics in media reports. The tool goes by the acronym Frappe – framing, persuasion and propaganda explorer. It was developed by Preslav Nakov, professor and chairman of natural language processing at the university, the world's first higher-learning institution dedicated to AI. "It was developed together with the European Commission, and a number or journalists and research institutions across Europe," Prof Nakov, who has a long history in the field of disinformation analysis, explained in a video posted to MBZUAI's social media accounts. "To the policymakers and journalists, it offers the opportunity to study and compare different countries, different languages, different media, and to the general user it offers a very useful media literacy tool." Frappe allows users to paste the URL link or text from any news article and provides insights as to how those pieces are framed. It also offers an analysis of the persuasion techniques and provides users with the ability to compare and contrast various persuasion styles used in countries throughout the world, with framing classifications including political, economic, morality, fairness, crime and security. "You can see a visualisation of 2.5 million articles across 186 countries along with very cool visualisation tools," Lara Hassan, an MBZUAI student, said in the video. MBZUAI said the Frappe tool has been presented at the Conference of the European Chapter of the Association for Computational Linguistics. Frappe started as an undergraduate research internship programme several years ago and has since been developed by researchers around the world, MBZUAI said. The tool's data set is 1,600 articles in English, French, German, Italian, Polish and Russian, though it has the ability to process reports in more than 100 languages. MBZUAI said researchers hope to expand the training data set and enhance Frappe's accuracy as development continues. Prof Nakov pointed out the nuance of persuasive language, explaining that although its use need not necessarily be viewed as a negative, it can be abused to misinform, especially with the involvement of AI and fake social media accounts. "We have seen machine-generated content put online with the purpose to deceive," he said. "We see fully automatic websites for fake news. And I anticipate more fully automatic multimedia content in the future.' MBZUAI was first announced in 2019, as AI developments continued to generate excitement after years of research in various technology and academic circles. The university opened in 2020.
Tahawul Tech
18-02-2025
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
Inception, MBZUAI launch SHERKALA transforming LLM landscape for Kazakhstan
Abu Dhabi — Inception, a G42 company specializing in AI-native products, and Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), the world's first AI-focused graduate research university, through its Institute of Foundation Models and in collaboration with Cerebras, today announced the launch of SHERKALA, a revolutionary Kazakh Large Language Model (LLM) designed to empower over 13 million Kazakh speakers with the potential of generative AI. SHERKALA, is an 8-billion-parameter model that is adaptively trained on 45 billion words, primarily focusing on Kazakh while also including English, Russian, and Turkish. SHERKALA, leverages Llama 3.1 and adapts it for Kazakh, with a 25% tokenizer expansion to make Kazakh understanding and generation more efficient. The model was trained on Condor Galaxy, one of the world's most powerful AI supercomputers for training and inferencing built by G42 and Cerebras. 'The launch of SHERKALA, reinforces our commitment to addressing the needs of underserved linguistic communities through advanced AI technologies. In collaboration with MBZUAI, we are proud to introduce a model that empowers Kazakh speakers and redefines the LLM landscape with scalable, efficient, and inclusive AI solutions. With JAIS tailored for Arabic speakers, NANDA for Hindi speakers, and now SHERKALA expanding access for Kazakh speakers, we continue to drive AI inclusiveness, ensuring underserved languages are fully represented in the AI ecosystem. This milestone brings us closer to a more equitable future where technology amplifies every voice,' said Dr. Andrew Jackson, CEO of Inception, a G42 company. 'In collaboration with MBZUAI, we are proud to introduce a model that empowers Kazakh speakers and redefines the LLM landscape with scalable, efficient, and inclusive AI solutions' Dr. Andrew Jackson, CEO of Inception, a G42 company. SHERKALA sets a new benchmark for Kazakh LLMs by excelling in Kazakh understanding and generative evaluations. The model surpasses larger counterparts through efficient token generation and state-of-the-art conversational capabilities, tested against human-curated queries on Kazakh culture, history, and knowledge. It is the best-performing open-source Kazakh-focused model of its size and outshines 70-billion-parameter models in generative capability. 'At MBZUAI, we are thrilled to collaborate with Inception on the development of SHERKALA a ground-breaking Kazakh LLM. This partnership reflects our shared vision of creating impactful AI solutions for underserved markets. Building upon the success of previous LLMs, SHERKALA represents a significant leap forward in democratizing AI access, preserving linguistic heritage, and empowering communities to thrive in the digital era. Together with Inception, we are transforming the LLM landscape, setting a precedent for innovative, inclusive, and responsible AI development,' said Professor Preslav Nakov, Department Chair and Professor of Natural Language Processing at MBZUAI.
Mid East Info
17-02-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
Inception and MBZUAI Launch SHERKALA Transforming the Large Language Model Landscape for Kazakhstan - Middle East Business News and Information
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Inception, a G42 company specializing in AI-native products, and Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), the world's first AI-focused graduate research university, through its Institute of Foundation Models and in collaboration with Cerebras, today announced the launch of SHERKALA, a revolutionary Kazakh Large Language Model (LLM) designed to empower over 13 million Kazakh speakers with the potential of generative AI. SHERKALA, is an 8-billion-parameter model that is adaptively trained on 45 billion words, primarily focusing on Kazakh while also including English, Russian, and Turkish. SHERKALA, leverages Llama 3.1 and adapts it for Kazakh, with a 25% tokenizer expansion to make Kazakh understanding and generation more efficient. The model was trained on Condor Galaxy, one of the world's most powerful AI supercomputers for training and inferencing built by G42 and Cerebras. 'The launch of SHERKALA, reinforces our commitment to addressing the needs of underserved linguistic communities through advanced AI technologies. In collaboration with MBZUAI, we are proud to introduce a model that empowers Kazakh speakers and redefines the LLM landscape with scalable, efficient, and inclusive AI solutions. With JAIS tailored for Arabic speakers, NANDA for Hindi speakers, and now SHERKALA expanding access for Kazakh speakers, we continue to drive AI inclusiveness, ensuring underserved languages are fully represented in the AI ecosystem. This milestone brings us closer to a more equitable future where technology amplifies every voice,' said Dr. Andrew Jackson, CEO of Inception, a G42 company. SHERKALA sets a new benchmark for Kazakh LLMs by excelling in Kazakh understanding and generative evaluations. The model surpasses larger counterparts through efficient token generation and state-of-the-art conversational capabilities, tested against human-curated queries on Kazakh culture, history, and knowledge. It is the best-performing open-source Kazakh-focused model of its size and outshines 70-billion-parameter models in generative capability. 'At MBZUAI, we are thrilled to collaborate with Inception on the development of SHERKALA a ground-breaking Kazakh LLM. This partnership reflects our shared vision of creating impactful AI solutions for underserved markets. Building upon the success of previous LLMs, SHERKALA represents a significant leap forward in democratizing AI access, preserving linguistic heritage, and empowering communities to thrive in the digital era. Together with Inception, we are transforming the LLM landscape, setting a precedent for innovative, inclusive, and responsible AI development,' said Professor Preslav Nakov, Department Chair and Professor of Natural Language Processing at MBZUAI. SHERKALA is now available as an open-source model on Hugging Face: , enabling researchers, developers, and enterprises to explore and build upon its capabilities. About Inception: Inception, a G42 company, builds AI-native products that leverage cutting-edge AI research, models, and systems applied to business problems. We pioneer domain-specific AI applications, to deliver AI-driven solutions, across languages and sectors. About Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) MBZUAI is a graduate research university focused on artificial intelligence, computer science, and digital technologies across industrial sectors. The university aims to empower students, businesses, and governments to advance artificial intelligence as a global force for positive progress. MBZUAI offers various graduate programs designed to pursue advanced, specialized knowledge and skills in artificial intelligence, including computer science, computer vision, machine learning, natural language processing, and robotics.
Zawya
17-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Inception and MBZUAI launch SHERKALA transforming the LLM landscape for Kazakhstan
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Inception, a G42 company specializing in AI-native products, and Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), the world's first AI-focused graduate research university, through its Institute of Foundation Models and in collaboration with Cerebras, today announced the launch of SHERKALA, a revolutionary Kazakh Large Language Model (LLM) designed to empower over 13 million Kazakh speakers with the potential of generative AI. SHERKALA, is an 8-billion-parameter model that is adaptively trained on 45 billion words, primarily focusing on Kazakh while also including English, Russian, and Turkish. SHERKALA, leverages Llama 3.1 and adapts it for Kazakh, with a 25% tokenizer expansion to make Kazakh understanding and generation more efficient. The model was trained on Condor Galaxy, one of the world's most powerful AI supercomputers for training and inferencing built by G42 and Cerebras. 'The launch of SHERKALA, reinforces our commitment to addressing the needs of underserved linguistic communities through advanced AI technologies. In collaboration with MBZUAI, we are proud to introduce a model that empowers Kazakh speakers and redefines the LLM landscape with scalable, efficient, and inclusive AI solutions. With JAIS tailored for Arabic speakers, NANDA for Hindi speakers, and now SHERKALA expanding access for Kazakh speakers, we continue to drive AI inclusiveness, ensuring underserved languages are fully represented in the AI ecosystem. This milestone brings us closer to a more equitable future where technology amplifies every voice,' said Dr. Andrew Jackson, CEO of Inception, a G42 company. SHERKALA sets a new benchmark for Kazakh LLMs by excelling in Kazakh understanding and generative evaluations. The model surpasses larger counterparts through efficient token generation and state-of-the-art conversational capabilities, tested against human-curated queries on Kazakh culture, history, and knowledge. It is the best-performing open-source Kazakh-focused model of its size and outshines 70-billion-parameter models in generative capability. 'At MBZUAI, we are thrilled to collaborate with Inception on the development of SHERKALA a ground-breaking Kazakh LLM. This partnership reflects our shared vision of creating impactful AI solutions for underserved markets. Building upon the success of previous LLMs, SHERKALA represents a significant leap forward in democratizing AI access, preserving linguistic heritage, and empowering communities to thrive in the digital era. Together with Inception, we are transforming the LLM landscape, setting a precedent for innovative, inclusive, and responsible AI development,' said Professor Preslav Nakov, Department Chair and Professor of Natural Language Processing at MBZUAI. SHERKALA is now available as an open-source model on Hugging Face: enabling researchers, developers, and enterprises to explore and build upon its capabilities. About Inception Inception, a G42 company, builds AI-native products that leverage cutting-edge AI research, models, and systems applied to business problems. We pioneer domain-specific AI applications, to deliver AI-driven solutions, across languages and sectors. To learn more, please visit and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, X About Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) MBZUAI is a graduate research university focused on artificial intelligence, computer science, and digital technologies across industrial sectors. The university aims to empower students, businesses, and governments to advance artificial intelligence as a global force for positive progress. MBZUAI offers various graduate programs designed to pursue advanced, specialized knowledge and skills in artificial intelligence, including computer science, computer vision, machine learning, natural language processing, and robotics. For more information, please visit To apply for admission, visit or contact admission@ For press inquiries, please contact: Aya Sakoury, MBZUAI's Head of PR and Strategic Communications / Amy Rogers, MBZUAI's Senior Communications Specialist media@ Roger Field / Aya Hassan, Wallis PR mbzuai@
